11:37am Thursday 8th May 2008
ENVIRONMENTALIST Jon- athon Porritt was the guest of honour at a special celebration event held near Evesham by the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust.
The writer and broadcaster unveiled a plaque at Hipton Hill on Friday to mark the trust's acquisition of a plum orchard and grassland.
About 30 trustees and guests attended the event, which was organised to highlight the work of the trust in protecting the Vale's natural environment and to mark its latest buy.
The purchase of the 70-acre site was funded by Severn Waste Services, the Tubney Trust and environmental charity Welcome to Our Future.
Chairman of the trust Dave Shaw said: "Tourists flock to the Vale of Evesham every spring to take the blossom trail and see the orchards in all their splendour.
"The trust is determined to preserve and develop a good example of this important ecological and economic asset that has been one of the mainstays of this community for generations."
Mr Porritt, chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, said: "Community initiatives of this kind are so important and it's wonderful that these orchards will be brought back into productive, sustainable use."
During the visit to the orchards, guests learned about the history of the site and the range of habitats and species that thrive there before being taken on a guided walk around the orchards.
A buffet lunch was enjoyed afterwards an nearby Wood Norton Hall, where Mr Porritt was presented with a basket of local asparagus, plum wine and honey as a token of the trust's appreciation.
During his visit to the Vale, Mr Porritt also honoured volunteers at the Cleeve Prior Heritage Trust for all their achieve ments over the previous 11 years.
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